SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Rhoda AI is building generalist intelligent robots with a complete robotics stack spanning hardware, systems, and foundation world models. The company has raised over $450M and is scaling aggressively across model research, infrastructure, hardware development, and manufacturing.
As an Actuator Engineer on the Hands Team, you will design the compact, efficient motor-and-gearbox actuator units that form the core of the robot hand. These actuators are critical—they directly determine what the entire system can accomplish in terms of dexterity and capability.
Key responsibilities include:
- Design compact motor-gearbox actuator units for hand fingers and wrist, from concept through production
- Architect miniaturized geartrains (especially planetary) that meet torque, backlash, and packaging targets at finger scale
- Size and select motors against torque, speed, power-draw, thermal, and efficiency requirements
- Build and run bench and dyno tests to characterize actuator performance, efficiency, and durability
- Partner with structures and electrical engineers on packaging, thermal paths, drive integration, and sensing
You should bring a track record of designing and shipping gearboxes (particularly planetary), experience miniaturizing geartrains for weight- and volume-constrained applications, and strong expertise in motor sizing and selection including power draw, torque density, and efficiency analysis.
Nice-to-have skills include gear design (tooth profiles, materials, manufacturing), tendon- or linkage-driven finger actuation experience, and familiarity with backdrivability and transparency requirements for teleoperation.
